METV these days gives unlimited entries within the validity time of the visa (6 months since date of issue). That means it can be used to stay in Thailand for 9 months (with border runs every 2 or 3 months and last entry on the date the visa expires+extension).

All you need is your passport, and a friend in Thailand who will let you use their address for correspondence purposes.

Although I took a Thai friend with me to help translate when I set up the account, the lady in the bank spoke good English and I was out the door with pass book and debit card in hand in about twenty minutes.

I use a specialist currency transfer company to buy Baht for me (on much more favourable terms than through a High St bank) and get it sent straight to my Thai account. I then draw out cash as I need it, and aside from a small receiving charge when the funds are transferred, there are no fees payable and no ATM handling charges.

I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly...

I opened a Kasikorn account in MV 4 years ago whilst here on a tourist visa without any questions being asked. Still have it and use it almost daily, on-line and for ATM and supermarkets.
Introduced a friend last year and they insisted he take out an accident insurance policy plus a minimum 1k baht deposit.

Earlier this year I decided I wanted a Bangkok Bank account..........they wanted residence letter from immigration. Easy enough to get but 100bht a pop.

I opened a Kasikorn account in MV 4 years ago whilst here on a tourist visa without any questions being asked. Still have it and use it almost daily, on-line and for ATM and supermarkets.
Introduced a friend last year and they insisted he take out an accident insurance policy plus a minimum 1k baht deposit.

Earlier this year I decided I wanted a Bangkok Bank account..........they wanted residence letter from immigration. Easy enough to get but 100bht a pop.

Everywhere you go is a different story

When I opened my BKK Bank account a few months ago all I needed was my passport which showed my visa and some cash to deposit. Done in 5 minutes at the branch at 29 Phetkasem Road.

"Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you're going to be right." Muhammad Ali